The Bay Horse Tavern Open Mic

Name: Open Mic at The Bay Horse Tavern
Location: The Bay Horse Tavern

The Bay Horse Tavern Open Mic — Quick Facts

Northern Quarter's Wednesday-night free acoustic open mic at 35-37 Thomas Street, M4 1NA — small back room, PA + guitar amp, 12-minute slots.

✓ Verified active Last verified 28 Apr 2026 Source: designmynight.com + venue confirmation

The Details

Everything you need before you turn up

DayWednesday

Start8pm

Sign-up7:30pm walk-in

Slot length12 min

EntryFree · 18+

Capacity~80 standing

Performer typesMusic

Sound engineerBYO / hire on the night

Where

The Bay Horse Tavern 35-37 Thomas Street
Northern Quarter
Manchester M4 1NA

Contact

Walk-in sign-up only
No advance booking
Host: in-house team

Highlights

Free entry

PA provided

Music18+Walk-in

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What's on Stage

PA + monitors

Drum kit

Guitar amp

Bass amp

Keys / keyboard

2 vocal mics

In-house engineer

The Bay Horse Tavern is a smaller alternative to the bigger Northern Quarter pubs — more intimate room, more attentive crowd, no full backline.

180 minutes, 15 acts at 12 minutes — mostly solo songwriters and acoustic duos.

Sign-up process

Sheet at the bar at 7:30pm. First-come basis.

Getting there

35-37 Thomas Street, M4 1NA. 5 minutes from Piccadilly Gardens. Northern Quarter buses stop on Tib Street.

The venue

Single bar room, music corner at the back. 18+. Capacity ~80. Pub food until 8pm; full bar.

Common Questions

Seven things people ask before turning up at Manchester's The Bay Horse Tavern open mic.

How do I sign up to play at The Bay Horse Tavern open mic?

Walk-in sign-up only, opens at 7:30pm. Arrive early — slots fill on the night. Backup options if you don't get on: other Manchester open mics the same week.

What backline does The Bay Horse Tavern provide?

PA + vocal mic provided. BYO instrument and amp. Need a venue with full backline? Try the backline filter.

How long is a slot at The Bay Horse Tavern open mic?

12 minutes per act — typically 3 songs solo or 4 for a band.

Is The Bay Horse Tavern open mic free?

Yes — free entry for performers and audience. Most Manchester mics are free; browse the list.

Can I bring a band to The Bay Horse Tavern open mic?

Solo and duo acts work best given the gear available; ask the host before bringing a full band. For full-band-friendly mics, filter the directory by backline.

Where is The Bay Horse Tavern?

35-37 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1NA.

What's the audience like on a Wednesday night?

Mostly fellow musicians, friends and Manchester regulars who turn up across the Manchester live music scene. Manchester open mic crowds tend to listen attentively — this isn't a chatter-over-the-music kind of night.